May 16, 2008

2008 Water Conservation Art and Poetry Contest Winners

The 2008 Water Conservation Art and Poetry Contest Awards Ceremony at The Cooper Union

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection Water Conservation Art and Poetry Contest provides students with a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the City's water resources and creatively express what they learn. Students created artwork using various media and poetry. The beauty, maturity, and insight of each entry illustrated the students' understanding of various water issues.

This year is the New York City Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) 22nd Annual Water Conservation Art and Poetry Contest. Over 350 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students from public, independent, and parochial schools throughout the City submitted original works of art and poetry that relate to the NYC water supply system, water conservation, water quality, and wastewater treatment. Entries were judged on their originality, craftsmanship, and creativity by selected reviewers from the City's environmental education community.

On May 8th, a ceremony at Cooper Union's Great Hall in Manhattan, co-sponsored by Consolidated Edison, was held to honor more than 350 students from over 80 schools. All winning entries were displayed, and borough winners were called to the stage to receive awards from Anne Canty, Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs. Teachers and school administrators along with representatives from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Consolidated Edison were there to offer congratulations to all the winners and their families. Thirteen entries created by 15 students received awards as the borough winners. The Borough Winners for art submissions were from the following schools:

PS 30 - Bronx

PS 157 - Brooklyn

PS 59 - Manhattan

IS 25 and PS 94 - Queens

PS 6 - Staten Island

The Borough Winners for poetry submissions were from the following schools:

Family Life Academy Charter School and the Fieldston Middle School - Bronx

IS 239 and PS 204 - Brooklyn

PS 187 - Manhattan

PS 38 - Queens

St. Joseph - St. Thomas School - Staten Island

Ms. Canty congratulated all the winners and thanked the participants from throughout the City for their efforts in helping to protect and conserve water.